Sharyn Speakman wins Quality Use of Medicines Award

Sharyn Speakman wins Quality Use of Medicines Award

Leading nurse practitioner Sharyn Speakman was selected as the winner of the 2017 Australian College of Nurse Practitioners (ACNP) Quality Use of Medicines Award in Brisbane on September 6th 2017.

Each year, the ACNP recognises a Nurse Practitioner/Advanced Practice Nurse who works consistently with consumers with moderate or severe pain to optimise their health and wellbeing. When being considered for this award, applicants were required to outline the strategies they have implemented in their area of practice to contribute to the achievement of better outcomes for patients.

Sharyn is a Nurse Practitioner with the Bushland Health Group Residential Aged Care Services, a community owned not-for-profit organisation which runs three residential aged care facilities on the mid-North coast of New South Wales. Her role is to oversee the health and pain management of 100 high care residents, including the management of all palliative care cases. Sharyn ensures the residents are involved in all decisions regarding their pain management. This gives them a sense of involvement and self-worth. She always gains consent from the resident or their ‘person responsible’ for medical treatment before treatment is instigated.

From June 2016 to May 2017, a total of 394 visits to address pain were facilitated by Sharyn and a total of 109 palliative care visits were conducted in 2016. The overall increase in all residents’ quality of life and their relatives’/carers’ satisfaction with the services of the nurse practitioner’s pain management strategies is evidence of excellence in pain management provided.

Sharyn has made a positive difference to those residents who experience pain through using and promoting the quality use of medicines.

Sharon Mason from Mundipharma presented Sharyn with her award at the Gala Dinner at Brisbane City Hall where over 150 guests were attending the ACNP’s 12th annual conference. This year’s ACNP QUM Award was exclusively sponsored by Mundipharma Pty Limited who have been supporting the award since 2013.

For more information about ACNP and the ACNP Quality Use of Medicines Award, click here.